Installing a FMS 6# Kit on a 98 F-150, A few questions.
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Installing a FMS 6# Kit on a 98 F-150, A few questions.
I've searched for about an hour or so on the board and have a few questions.
My dad has a 98 F-150 with the 5.4L. We're looking into an FMS 6# kit we can get for 1100$ New in box. Pretty good deal.
How much power are we looking to gain? Maybe 60rwhp?
Couple of questions. In the mustang world most people don't run Powerdynes. I have a Vortech'd stang and my dads stang has a Vortech too. In low boost factory style applications do the Powerdynes hold up pretty good? Also how do they hold up in cold weather. In the winter time where we use the truck for ice fishing and where their condo is temps get down to -5. Vortech says running their blowers at that temp is a big no no. Are Powerdyne's the same?
Whats the success rate on just bolt-on and go. Do the kits always need to be tuned or are they usually right on? This truck is my dads daily driver and we're going to use it for towing (our mustangs). It needs to stay extremely reliable.
And finally. Some say to put a new fuel pump in, others say no. Is the stock pump good enough? Or do we NEED to install a 190? Also is dropping the F-150 tank pretty easy? Which fuel pump do we get? Just a typical walbro?
I'm sorry if some of these questions have been asked before. The search I was doing kept turning up blower questions/installs for 3v F-150's and a few V6 trucks.
Thank you.
My dad has a 98 F-150 with the 5.4L. We're looking into an FMS 6# kit we can get for 1100$ New in box. Pretty good deal.
How much power are we looking to gain? Maybe 60rwhp?Couple of questions. In the mustang world most people don't run Powerdynes. I have a Vortech'd stang and my dads stang has a Vortech too. In low boost factory style applications do the Powerdynes hold up pretty good? Also how do they hold up in cold weather. In the winter time where we use the truck for ice fishing and where their condo is temps get down to -5. Vortech says running their blowers at that temp is a big no no. Are Powerdyne's the same?
Whats the success rate on just bolt-on and go. Do the kits always need to be tuned or are they usually right on? This truck is my dads daily driver and we're going to use it for towing (our mustangs). It needs to stay extremely reliable.
And finally. Some say to put a new fuel pump in, others say no. Is the stock pump good enough? Or do we NEED to install a 190? Also is dropping the F-150 tank pretty easy? Which fuel pump do we get? Just a typical walbro?
I'm sorry if some of these questions have been asked before. The search I was doing kept turning up blower questions/installs for 3v F-150's and a few V6 trucks.
Thank you.
Last edited by Nitrous SSC; Nov 30, 2006 at 05:42 PM.
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Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Charleroi PA
I have been running a powerdyne on a daily driver for close to 4 years now. I had an early bearing failure on the stock set-up early powerdynes had Koyo bearings that had some problems replaced them with what powerdyne now uses SKF ceramic and have been running 2.5 pulley at 10# of boost for over 3 years, and no problems at all.
The kit is easy to install and if you get all the right pieces can be done in 4 hours but you will need to fitness and adjust a few things. The fuel pump is barely antiquate, for safety I would recommend an upgrade especially if you are going to use the FMU system(fuel management unit) which raises stock fuel pressure to stock injectors. a 190 is a direct fit and easy to install. The FMU is OK although a 'tune' make a nicer driving truck. You will need to help the transmission to survive with either tuning or a factory-tech valve-body plate kit or both.
The supercharger is very quiet and cold is not a factor, they are more prone to heat problems. For the money they are not a bad deal, are there better superchargers? yes definitely but you will be in the $5000 dollar range.
I would say that you're HP expectations will be easily reached at stock level. The only problem is that once you get started, as I am sure you have read, you are always looking fore more!!!
The kit is easy to install and if you get all the right pieces can be done in 4 hours but you will need to fitness and adjust a few things. The fuel pump is barely antiquate, for safety I would recommend an upgrade especially if you are going to use the FMU system(fuel management unit) which raises stock fuel pressure to stock injectors. a 190 is a direct fit and easy to install. The FMU is OK although a 'tune' make a nicer driving truck. You will need to help the transmission to survive with either tuning or a factory-tech valve-body plate kit or both.
The supercharger is very quiet and cold is not a factor, they are more prone to heat problems. For the money they are not a bad deal, are there better superchargers? yes definitely but you will be in the $5000 dollar range.
I would say that you're HP expectations will be easily reached at stock level. The only problem is that once you get started, as I am sure you have read, you are always looking fore more!!!
Last edited by chucks bp; Nov 30, 2006 at 08:33 PM.
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Thank you for the quick reply.
So a standard size Walbro fits? I know 155-255lph they are all the same. So is getting the tank out pretty easy?
After we get the kit on and what not we'll see how it drives. If its not what we want I'll get an X-cal 2 and hopefully find a tune for it also to save the tranny.
Who is the "local guru vendor" for tunes on these trucks with blowers?
The stock injectors are what? 19lbers?
So a standard size Walbro fits? I know 155-255lph they are all the same. So is getting the tank out pretty easy?
After we get the kit on and what not we'll see how it drives. If its not what we want I'll get an X-cal 2 and hopefully find a tune for it also to save the tranny.
Who is the "local guru vendor" for tunes on these trucks with blowers?
The stock injectors are what? 19lbers?
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 796
Likes: 3
From: Charleroi PA
standard injectors are 19# Most tuners like the 42# injectors makes the tuning easier, most will not tune with the FMU Mike Troyer has done all my tuning, he can send you a tune that is quite close and always safe. If you are not concerned about the supercharger warranty you may want to step up the boost, what I like is that at my level I can get 3# of boost at 2500 rpm, you are not at max boost very often so I really don't think that with good bearings the life is shortened on the supercharger. These trucks never see much over 5200 RPM so it's not like a stick car that is going to see big RPM all the time. The hardest part of changing the fuel pump was disconnecting the fuel fill hose, very easy job! a 190 pump will be fine and be sure to install new copper or iridium plugs gap them to about .030 and a new fuel filter is mandatory, you never want a supercharged engine to go lean, it's just like a cutting torch when it does. If you ever have any questions feel free to email me direct, be glad to chat with you, I have rebuilt these and they are very simple to work on, not much to go bad in there, 4 bearings and a coged belt. the newer belts seem to be very good!